Friday, August 22, 2008
By ELISE FRANCO
The men honored arrived on the scene first and took immediate action.
CANFIELD — The men who were honored with the fire district’s Medals of Gallantry said the award is just that, an honor.
Four Canfield firefighters and two Canfield police officers were given the medal Thursday afternoon for saving the lives of seven people during a fire at The Villager apartments on July 28.
Ralph McMahan Jr. has worked for the fire department for just over a year, and said he feels lucky to be given the medal.
“It’s great. I only wish that everyone who was at the scene could have received one,” he said. “I am fortunate to work with such a great crew, and I’m happy everyone was safe.”
Police Officer Mark “Scooter” Meshula said he never expected to be honored this way for simply doing his job.
“I saw a lot of people in terror, and I just wanted to take that feeling away from them,” the 14-year veteran said.
The other safety forces officers honored were Mark D’Angelo, who’s been with the fire department for five years; Bill Wilkeson, eight years; Jason Glista, two years; and Lance Malone, on the police force for two years.
Chief Robert Tieche of the Cardinal Joint Fire District said the men, who arrived on the scene first, saw the residents had broken a window to get out, but were trapped inside the building.
“These guys pulled ladders up to the window and got those seven people out of there before they even got started on the fire,” he said.
Tieche and Capt. Bill Jones presented each man with his medal.
Tieche said Canfield is fortunate to have safety officers who are so dedicated to serving the community day in and day out, and in turn, the officers are fortunate to have community members who trust them to call upon their services when help is needed.
“In our department, the Medal of Gallantry is awarded to an individual who has been instrumental in saving another human being from harm or death,” he said. “These men are sworn to protect and save lives, and their actions only reinforce that commitment.”
efranco@vindy.com